The challenges
The challenges
These energy objectives respond to the need to reduce dependence on foreign energy and to meet the challenge of tackling climate change.
1 Guarantee and security of the electricity supply
Investment on the Spanish peninsula in the period 2013-2017 will be at around 425-450 million euros per year, including in this figure the international interconnections. Also, an estimated investment of 125-150 million euros a year will be earmarked for interconnections on the Islands. One of the most noteworthy projects from the point of view of security of supply and the structuring of the territory, is the Majorca-Ibiza submarine interconnection, linking the two electricity subsystems currently in the Balearic Islands.
2 Strengthening interconnections with Europe
The Spanish electricity system does not reach the minimum interconnection level of 10% of installed capacity that the European Union recommends. The first phase to achieve this is already underway: the new interconnection, through the Eastern Pyrenees, scheduled to be put in service in 2014 will double the current level of interconnection of 1400 megawatts to 2800 megawatts. But this is still not enough. Therefore, a new interconnection with France is planned for 2020, from the Basque country, which would be a submarine link across the Bay of Biscay.
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3 Development of super grids
The ambitious targets for 2020 and the European Union’s 2050 roadmap require the progressive development of electrification and super grids, understood as supranational grids of high transmission capacity over long distances, and that can help to balance the fluctuations inherent to renewable energies. Red Eléctrica will play an important role in shaping these electricity highways that will allow the optimum utilisation of renewable marine and terrestrial resources, and will provide support between interconnected electricity systems depending on the situation of the generation, the transmission grid and the demand existing in each one of them.
4 Energy efficiency and smart grids
Red Eléctrica continues to enhance the functionality of its control centre of renewable energies and contributing new solutions for system operation with the aim to safely integrate these which are difficult to manage. This is allowing indigenous energy sources to play an increasingly prominent role in the demand coverage, thereby reducing our dependence on foreign energy.
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5 Eficiencia energética y redes inteligentes
The electricity system as a whole must evolve to meet the challenges of achieving greater flexibility in the supply of electricity and increase energy efficiency. Red Eléctrica is promoting various strategies for demand-side management aimed at addressing these challenges. In addition, we are laying the groundwork for how the electricity system, as a whole, could benefit from the implementation of smart grids and that are called to play a major role in the coming years.
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